SERVICE
CAUTION 
To avoid possible injury, observe the following safety rules WHEN SERVICING the backhoe:
1.ENGAGE safety locks as shown in Figures 1 & 3 before servicing the backhoe.
2.DO NOT oil, grease or adjust the backhoe while it is in motion.
3.DO NOT change any backhoe relief valve settings. They are factory set for best performance and safety.
4.ESCAPING FLUID under
pressure can have sufficient force to penetrate the skin and cause serious injury. Be sure to relieve all pressure before disconnecting lines. Be sure all connections are tight and
that lines, pipes and hoses are not damaged before applying pressure to the system.
5.FLUID ESCAPING from a very small hole can be almost invisible. Use a small piece of cardboard or wood - not your hands - to search for suspected leaks.
6.SEE A DOCTOR AT ONCE if injured by escaping fluid. Serious infection or gangrene can develop if proper medical treatment is not administered immedi- ately.
7.PROTECT YOUR EYES - Wear safety glasses. Guard against injury when driving connecting pins or performing any repair in which particles can chip from work piece or striking tool.
BEGINNING OF SEASON
Remove all protective coverings.
Check hydraulic hoses for deterioration and replace, if necessary.
Lubricate all grease fittings and oil handle linkages.
Check hydraulic system for loss of fluid and, if neces- sary, fill to proper level.
Tighten all loose bolts, nuts and setscrews.
Inspect bucket teeth and, if necessary, sharpen or replace them.
Operate the backhoe slowly for a short time before placing the unit under full load.
Bleeding Backhoe Hydraulic System
If the hydraulic hoses have been disconnected from the backhoe or tractor, all trapped air must be removed after the hoses are connected. Start tractor engine and operate backhoe through all movements
fully several times to purge the system of air.
Hydraulic System Hoses
Oil leaks in the pressure side of the system can be located by carefully inspecting the external area of the hoses and fittings.
Check the return side of the system for leaks by examining the oil in the reservoir. If air is being drawn into the system, the oil will contain air bubbles and appear to foam.
When tightening connections, always use two wrenches.
IMPORTANT: Do not
NEVER use teflon tape on pipe thread fittings. Always use a
Hoses on any backhoe are very severely worked and will fail in time. Examine them regularly and replace any that show signs of failure. Pay careful attention to the routing of hoses so they can move fully and freely without kinking, and cannot be pinched or cut by any part of the backhoe.
Hydraulic System Reservoir
On PTO pump systems, maintain the reservoir oil at the proper level by looking at the dipstick. The dipstick/breather cap is located directly behind the right side of the foot platform on the backhoe. When check- ing oil level, the backhoe should be extended to full reach with the bucket rolled back and resting on the ground. All cylinders are retracted except for the boom cylinder. Do not overfill; oil may be forced out of the breather cap.
Fill with:
SAE 10W40 engine oil with API “SF/SG” classifica- tion in northern climates.
SAE 40W engine oil with API “SF/SG” classification in southern climates.
Change oil every 200 hours or more often if neces- sary. To change oil, extend backhoe to full reach with bucket rolled back and resting on ground. Turn off tractor PTO and shut down tractor engine. Unseat breather cap from fill tube and remove drain plug from left rear underside of hydraulic reservoir using 1/4” hex wrench. Drain oil from reservoir and replace drain plug. Refill reservoir with 7 gallons of fresh oil fol- lowing guidelines listed above for proper oil selection. Reseat breather cap and start engine and PTO. After cycling all backhoe functions several times to remove any air from hydraulic system, check oil level in reservoir with backhoe extended to full reach and bucket rolled back and resting on ground. If oil level on dipstick is below “ADD” line, add enough oil to bring level up to “FULL” line. DO NOT overfill reser- voir or oil may be forced out through breather cap dur- ing backhoe operation.
If the tractor system supplies the hydraulic power, ser- vice according to the tractor instruction manual.
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